Landscape shrub rose plant named ‘Meiradena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Landscape Shrub rose plant is provided that abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive cup-shaped double white blossoms. The plant exhibits vigorous vegetation and a compact and bushy growth habit. The foliage is attractive dark green and contrasts well with the blossom coloration. The disease resistance has been found to be excellent during observations to date. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Landscape Shrub RosePlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meiradena.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Landscape Shrub rose plant was createdat Le Luc en Provence, France, by artificial pollination during June2007 wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studiedin the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. Thefemale parent (i.e., the seed parent) was an unnamed and unreleasedbreeder seedling (non-patent in the United States). The male parent(i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Radsweet’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 19,032).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:Unnamed Breeder Seedling×‘Radsweet’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Landscape Shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive        cup-shaped double white blossoms,    -   (b) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,    -   (d) forms attractive dense dark green foliage that contrasts        well with the blossom coloration,    -   (e) exhibits excellent disease resistance, and    -   (f) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in        the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks and gardens, publicareas, and residential landscapes. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from other landscape shrubrose plants through an inspection of the blossoms. For instance, the‘Radsweet’ male parent forms dissimilar single blossoms having a lightpink coloration. When compared to the ‘Radwhite’ variety, it is foundthat the ‘Radwhite’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,273) formsdissimilar single blossoms.

The rooting of terminal cuttings was used to asexually propagate the newcultivar in Le Luc, France, where the initial seedling was germinated.Replicates of the rooted terminal cuttings were also sent to West Grove,Pa., U.S.A., where they were grown. Further asexual reproduction (by wayof rooted cuttings) was initiated in West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., and theseedlings were then sent to and grown in Wasco, Calif., U.S.A. From allof these asexual reproductions, the characteristics of the new varietywere found to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissibleby asexual propagation. The new variety reproduces in a true-to-typemanner by such asexual propagation, such as budding, grafting, and therooting of cuttings.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiradena’, and is being marketed underthe ICECAP trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical flowering rose plants of the new variety. The illustrated roseplants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and wereobserved during May 2011, while growing outdoors on their own roots atLe Luc en Provence, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates the abundant flowering of new plant with the whiteblossoms contrasting nicely with the dark green foliage.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of an open white cup-shaped blossom ofthe new plant with surrounding foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995 Edition or equivalent),London, England. The description is based on the observation oftwo-year-old specimens of the new variety during May while growing incontainers outdoors on their own roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose.    -   -   Cultivar.—Meiradena.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 80 cm on average at maturity.        -   Width.—Approximately 105 cm on average at maturity.        -   Habit.—Compact and bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—A near Green Group 137C on young stems, and commonly            near Greyed-Orange Group 165A on mature wood.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 19 cm on average for main            stems, and approximately 28 cm on average for secondary            stems.        -   Thorns.—Size: on young stems commonly approximately 1 cm in            length on average, and approximately 5 mm in width on            average at the point of attachment, and on adult stems            approximately 9 mm in length on average, and approximately 5            mm in width on average at the point of attachment. Color:            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144C on young stems, and            near Greyed-Brown Group 199D when mature.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Commonly approximately 11.5 cm in length on average            and approximately 9.5 cm in width on average for a            five-leaflet leaf.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7. Length: approximately 4.5 cm            on average for a terminal leaflet, and approximately 3.5 cm            for a lower leaflet. Width: approximately 3 cm on average            for a terminal leaflet, and approximately 2.5 cm for a lower            leaflet. Shape: generally ovate. Apex: acuminate. Base:            rounded. Texture: generally glabrous on the upper surface            and generally smooth on the under surface. Overall            appearance: attractive dark green leaves. Color: (when            young): Upper surface: near Green Group 143A. Under surface:            near Green Group 138A. Color (when fully mature): Upper            surface: near Green Group 137A. Under surface: near Green            Group 137A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly 10 to 20 blooms per stem or in            cluster, and commonly approximately 85 blooms per plant on            average.        -   Peduncle.—Commonly Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration,            smooth in texture, commonly approximately 5.5 cm in length            on average, and approximately 2 mm in diameter on average        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Margins: entire commonly with extensions            on two or three sepals that measure approximately 6 mm in            length on average and approximately 1 mm in width on            average. Color: on upper surface smooth, near Yellow-Green            Group 144B, and covered with short pubescence, and on the            under surface smooth, and near Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Buds.—Shape: generally ovoid. Length: approximately 3 mm on            average as the calyx breaks. diameter: approximately 1.5 cm            on average as the calyx breaks. Color: near Yellow-White            Group 159C blending to Green-White Group 157B at the base.        -   Flower.—Form: double, cuplike. Diameter: commonly            approximately 5.5 cm on average. Color (when opening            begins): Upper surface: near Yellow Group 10D at the point            of attachment, transitioning to Yellow-White Group 158C            towards the apex. Under surface: near Yellow Group 11D at            the point of attachment blending to White Group 155D towards            the apex. Color (at the end of blooming): Upper surface:            near White Group 155D at the point of attachment, blending            to White Group 155D towards the apex. Under surface: near            Green-Winter Group 157D at the point of attachment blending            to White Group 155B towards the apex. Fragrance: none            noticeable. Petal number: commonly approximately 25 on            average under normal growing conditions. Petal arrangement:            imbricated. Petal length: commonly approximately 3.8 cm on            average. Petal width: commonly approximately 3.5 cm on            average. Petal shape: obcordate. Petal margin: wavy. Petal            base: rounded. Petal drop: good, the petals commonly detach            cleanly and freely drop upon full maturity. Stamen number            approximately 60 on average. Anthers: near Greyed-Orange            Group 165D in coloration. Filaments: approximately 1 cm in            length, and the coloration is near Yellow Group 4B. Pollen:            moderate in quantity, and commonly near Orange Group 26B in            coloration. Pistils: approximately 45 on average, generally            separate and free. Styles: commonly 5 mm in length, the            upper portion commonly is near Red-Purple Group 58D in            coloration, and the lower portion commonly is near White            Group 155D in coloration. Stigma: commonly approximately 1            mm in diameter on average, and near Yellow Group 11D in            coloration. Receptacle: commonly substantially round in            shape, approximately 6 mm in diameter average, smooth in            texture, achenes stand on the bottom and wall, and near            Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. Hips/seeds: none            observed to date.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and strong.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous from            spring to first frost.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent for the type during            observations to date.

Plants of the ‘Meiradena’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Landscape Shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly andsubstantially continuously forms attractive cup-shaped double whiteblossoms, (b) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit, (c) formsvigorous vegetation, (d) forms attractive dense dark green foliage thatcontrasts well with the blossom coloration, (e) exhibits excellentdisease resistance, and (f) is well suited for growing as attractiveornamentation in the landscape; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.